Now in its fourth year, a full flight of 30 golf teams were paired with celebrities including music’s Tracy Lawrence, Jan Howard, Eric Heatherly, George Ducas, Lucas Hoge, Lisa Matassa, Matt Gary, Del Gray of Little Texas, Mark and Jason Sutton of Brother Trouble, Dave Rowland of Dave & Sugar fame, the Bachelorette’s Ty Brown, Jackson Delaney, Jesse Keith Whitley, Mitch Goudy, Sherry Lynn, Brandon Blackstock and songwriter Wood Newton, plus television personalities Kelly Sutton (ZUUS Country) and Bob Sellers (Fox 17), in addition to legendary announcer and radio host WSM’s Mike Terry, Ms. Senior America Carolyn Corlew and famed international comic strip artist and writer Guy Gilchrist. Also on hand to help were Erin Como and Jennifer Waddell of Fox 17. This year’s tournament was co-hosted by the award-winning Bluegrass duo The Roys, who have been helping to host the tournament since its inception over the past four years, and Stacy McCloud of GAC. Prevost bus company, the ultimate class in driving excellence, also returned for its fourth consecutive year as the title sponsor.

“Each year, things just get better and bigger,” stated Linda O’Connell, President of Christmas4Kids. “This year, we had a $25,000 hole-in-one prize for the taking. While no one left with the cash, what every golfer got in return was the joy of being able to provide a great Christmas for a whole bunch of Middle-Tennessee children this coming season. That’s a feeling that money just can’t buy.”

Christmas 4 Kids fundraising efforts will continue throughout the year, with the annual Christmas 4 Kids Charity Concert at the Ryman on November 24 and the Tour Bus show on December 15. For more information on Christmas 4 Kids, please visit christmas4kids.org.

About Christmas 4 Kids:

For over twenty years, Christmas 4 Kids has been providing children in the Middle Tennessee area with the chance to experience the joys of Christmas. Last year, Christmas 4 Kids was able to provide over 400 children a ride on a celebrity tour bus, a party with Santa and Mrs. Claus, money to spend on gifts for themselves and others at a local Wal-Mart and a new winter coat.

Proceeds from this year’s Celebrity Golf Tournament and other events throughout the year, like the annual Charity Concert at the Ryman and Tour Bus Show, will go to make this a reality again in December 2014. Visit www.christmas4kids.org for more information on Christmas 4 Kids.

Barry running for Judge

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Haywood Barry last week announced his candidacy for Division II General Sessions Judge of Wilson County. He is the former Judge of Division I.

Haywood is a long-time resident of Lebanon and well known for his community service. He most recently served two terms as Ward 5 City Council Person for Lebanon. Haywood is a graduate of Lebanon High School, Tennessee Tech University, and the Nashville School of Law. In addition, he has extensive experience and many hours of specialized continuing judicial education.

Since his retirement from a 24 year stint as Division I Judge, Haywood has for the past 16 years substituted throughout Middle Tennessee to help other Judges. He has remained up-to-date on all laws as a continuing member of the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference. Haywood is also a member of many legal and judicial education organizations. He resumed the practice of law from 2000 until 2011.

Haywood is married to Jean Berry, who taught elementary school for many years in Wilson County and Lebanon. They have two adult children, Ken Barry, who is a Civil and Environmental Engineer with S&ME and resides with his family in Norris. Their daughter, Julie Barry Gatlin, is a real estate broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, and resides with her family in Lebanon. Haywood and Jean are the proud grandparents of five grandchildren.

Haywood is a long-time member of the Lebanon-Wilson County Chamber of Commerce. In 2008, he was awarded Life Membership in the Chamber. He is a well-known runner in this area. He has been running for over 40 years and logged over 35,000 miles in pursuit of good health.

Haywood states, “I have signed the Tennessee Fair Judicial Campaign Code of Conduct promising to abide by all the rules applying to judicial candidates. My pledge to you is to work hard, listen to all, fairly apply the law, then use my wisdom and common sense gained from many years of legal and judicial experience to make a fair decision. It is my wholehearted desire to serve the people of Wilson County. I ask for your vote and support in the Aug. 7 election. Thank you for your past and future consideration.”

Foilers foiled by Mt. Juliet PD

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Three suspects failed to foil the anti-theft devices at Best Buy by wrapping their stolen items in…foil.

Mt. Juliet Police officers were called to Best Buy Tuesday, April 29 when loss prevention staff noticed the suspects wrapping trying to conceal a cell phone and Bose headphones.

They were stopped by staff and officers, and the suspects had several items wrapped in aluminum foil, which they used to try to get past the anti-theft devices.

Michael Binkley, 48, of Nashville, Amanda Jett, 18, of Hermitage, and Stephen Sandlin, 29, of Madison, were all arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail under a $4,000 bond.

They were charged with Theft of Merchandise and Possession of Tools to Interfere with Anti-theft Security Devices.

All are set to appear in court on June 10.

Festival of Art & Music set for May 31

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

The Bonna Brothers Band will be the opening act at the Summer Festival of Art & Music.

The fourth annual Summer Festival of Art & Music to benefit the Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center is scheduled for Saturday, May 31 from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.

The agenda includes five music acts on an outdoor stage beginning at 10 a.m. Approximate times are:

Entrées must be brought in by noon Friday, May 10. The contest is open to anyone.

This year’s theme is “Movies”.

Some collectible cars will be on display.

For more information on booth rental or how to enter the shoe contest call (615) 758-9114.

The event is free and open to the public.

Encore Theatre presents two companion works

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Encore Theatre Company presents Jubilee in the Rear View Mirror by Garret Mathews and directed by Michael Rex. A two-act play based on the civil rights movement in 1964 opens May 9th and runs weekends through May 24.

The drama is set in the fictional town of Jubilee, Miss., during Freedom Summer when hundreds of activists headed South to register African-American voters and to desegregate schools, bus stations and businesses. In the play, a black civil rights worker from the North finds himself in a cell with a white racist who is behind bars for beating his wife. This is a compelling story that uniquely reveals the power of the human spirit and the ability of the individual to triumph over inequities in society.

The companion piece, My Mama Says is a presentation of writings from well-known African-American women, compiled and produced by Michael Rex – directed by James Bealor.

A little girl finds her grandmother’s photo album. While Calli recognizes some of the people in the pictures, she doesn’t know who all of them are, so she asks her mother. Celeste looks through the photos with her daughter, looking at the women from the American Civil Rights movement - the women who her mother marched with, protested with, suffered with, and made a difference with. These women who changed America. These women who had something to say. Eight women come to life through their most famous words. This is what My Mama Says.

(These plays contain historically accurate language.)

Friday/Saturday show times are 7:30 p.m. and Sunday is 2:30p.m.

Encore Theatre is located at 6978 Lebanon Rd Mt Juliet – just west of Hwy 109. Tickets are Adults $15, Seniors (60+) $12 or Children (12 & under) $10 may be purchased at the door or reserved by calling 598-8950 or visiting the website http://shop.encore-theatre-company.org/

A 501(c)3 non-profit community theatre serving Wilson County and surrounding areas.